A great way to spend a pleasant Sunday afternoon

It had been quite some time since I meandered over to Jervey Gantt Park to enjoy the fine music that takes place there each Sunday starting at about 1 p.m.

By Emory SchleyColumnist

It had been quite some time since I meandered over to Jervey Gantt Park to enjoy the fine music that takes place there each Sunday starting at about 1 p.m. I went there a couple of Sundays ago and found a good group of music lovers sitting in their chairs taking in some of the best free musical entertainment that Beautiful Marion County has to offer.

Actually, it’s just a jam session where musicians and singers get together to do what they love so much. It takes place every Sunday throughout the year in the space under the giant oak trees next door to the Herbert S. Coleman Center at Jervey Gantt Park, just down the street from the Marion County Health Department.

If you’ve never been there before, then probably the easiest way to find it is to turn in from Maricamp onto the road that runs beside McDonald’s, then take the first left. Immediately on your right will be the dog park, and the next group of cars and people will be the Sunday jam site just before you get to the Coleman Center building. Pull in, find a parking space, get out, stretch your legs, then enjoy the music. There are generally several groups playing music. Take your choice.

There are a few benches in the area, but they’re anchored in place so you might want to take your own sitting accommodations. The music-makers start playing about 1 p.m., and continue until they decide to break up and go home, sometimes early, sometimes late.

The music has a strong country flavor, with an occasional folk song or two thrown in. This is the perfect time of year for such activity if you choose a Sunday with mild weather. If you like your music coaxed from guitars, fiddles, upright bass, mandolins, banjos and harmonicas, then this is the place to be.

If you don’t like the free show, you can always ask for your money back, y’know!

IF THE CREEK DON’T RISE: In a recent column, I used the term “if the creek don’t rise.” It turns out I should have capitalized creek because the old saying refers to the Creek Indians.

Debbie Zwolak, Ocala, wrote: “Sir, the following website is a history of the line you quoted (‘good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise’ Dec. 20) in regards to the Mayan calendar. All too many think it refers to water, when in fact it refers to the southern Creek Indian tribe. I, too, recently learned of this and found it interesting after having used it incorrectly myself for years. We learn something new every day!”

The website she refers to can be found at www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=978 and, oddly enough, I had come across the same information in something I had read several weeks ago, but being the Olde Codger I am, I had forgotten it when I wrote that column.

Thanks, Debbie, for helping Dearly Beloved keep me straight on what I write!

INTERNET LINKS: In this final column for 2012, I thought we’d toss in a few more of those Internet links that readers send to me.

Michael D’Andrea, a former Star-Banner IT guy who now lives in Tennessee, sent me the link to a somewhat weird (at least to the participants) video about a frightening little girl who mysteriously appears inside an elevator. It’s really pretty cute, but I don’t think I’d want this prank pulled on me. It’s at: http://tinyurl.com/c2hfug7

Ed and Mary Garrepy, Ocala, thinks those who are in a nostalgic mood, and fans of Frank Sinatra, Orson Welles and the old TV comedians, might like to see this one: http://tinyurl.com/d62lvtt

Tim Stafford, the Ocala National Forest, thinks those with a classical music bent will appreciate this one: http://tinyurl.com/7pewo3l

George Carson, Ocala, sent in one for train lovers and Floyd Cramer fans: http://tinyurl.com/8whaks6

Send comments to slyguy73@gmail.com and include your FULL name and town. This column appears each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and online at www.ocala.com.